Avoid the 20 says DUI arrests about level with last year

During the first weekend of a 20-day crackdown, law-enforcement officers in Monterey and San Benito counties reported taking 25 DUI suspects into custody between Friday and Sunday, just one less than last year's total of 26 at this time. California Highway Patrol officials in Monterey report two alcohol-related injury crashes over the weekend.

The 20-day campaign started Friday and will continue until midnight on New Year's Day, said Salinas police traffic Sgt. Gerry Ross. "We plan a sobriety checkpoint for Salinas later in the week. Next week will see enhanced DUI patrols in most cities."

Avoid the 20, named for the number of police agencies in the two counties, gets its funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ross explained that when people get their driver's licenses, they give implied consent for police officers to test their blood or breath.

"If you're driving a passenger car, the limit is .08 percent. If you're a commercial driver, you'll be taken out of service at a much lower level, .04. There is zero tolerance for drivers under 21. If you are below the legal limit, you can still be arrested if the officer can show that the alcohol consumption negatively reduced your ability to drive," Ross said.

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Avoid the 20 says DUI arrests about level with last year

During the first weekend of a 20-day crackdown, law-enforcement officers in Monterey and San Benito counties reported taking 25 DUI suspects into custody between Friday and Sunday, just one less than